Val: I...I can't. With my foster father gone, I've got to try to manage the foundry...but I can offer you...
Before Val can finish explaining how she can help you, the door slams open. And in walks...
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Dolga Freddert (LN old female dwarf aristocrat 2/fighter 3),
the town’s oldest councilor. She was present at Torch’s founding
over a century ago, and though her body has grown old in
those 100 years, she remains alert and energetic.
She is still capable of hefting her favorite
weapon, a +1 adamantine warhammer, with
ease, though she rarely has need of this
symbol in her capacity as councilor.
Ere now, whats this ruckus going on in da village at this hour?
"This mechanical abomination that Khonnir brought back woke up and started wrecking the place. Don't worry, we turned it back into the inert piece of metal that it ought to be in the first place."
After her look of disgust fades, she adds, "Is there anything you can tell us about the caves, sir? We do have every intention of going and trying to retrieve the lost councilman."
Aye we are going down to try to save the man and find any more of these automatons. Blast now I have a headache, is this something it does? He kicks at the bot.
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The councilwoman seems exstatic that you've decided to descend into the caves! We've been completely out of voluneers since the last round of blokes went down there. I'd go m'self twere it not on occount of someone needs to stay up here and run the town!. As you ask the following questions, she gives you the following answers...
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Balgrim turns to Val, still rubbing his head under his hat.
Ye were sayin' something about helping us out lass?
Merelinda listens to the goings on, confident her companions will ask all the appropriate questions. She turns her mind forward, to the task at hand. Five teams, and only one successful visit. The odds were truly stacked against them...but the others had not had the faith of Iomedae to keep them safe. They likely had run into more of these robotic monstrosities and oohed and ahed over them instead of destroying them, much to their later chagrin. A mistake Merelinda did not intend to make, herself.
"The League would make sense, but it could be any of a number of other groups. The wall of skymetal, though... It must be another fragment of the Silver Mount from the Rain of Stars. Any assistance we could gain would be most welcome. Val, or Dame Freddert, if there is anything else specific you'd like us to do in this search, let us know now."
Val: Everyone, I've come to a decision. I'm going to close down the tavern. At least until Khonnir is returned to us safely. She turns to you all And if you choose to go after him, I will offer you the tavern as a base of operations. And you can help yourself to the food and spirits within. And also use the "secret" room, and it's magic, under the bar.
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Dolga adds: That's quite an offer Val. Not to mention the reward for rescuing Khonnir is 4,000 gp, plus the town’s scroll of resurrection if he’s brought back alive. A separate reward of 4,000 gp is still awaiting those who can reignite the torch atop Black Hill, but for the moment, the council is more interested in getting Khonnir back home safe and sound.
"Well! Your father never told me he had a secret room under the tavern! I guess if he told me it wouldn't be all that secret anymore, though. That's quite a boon. Let us see this room, and then prepare to begin the rescue mission!"
Aye, let's see the magic room and get ready to go.
Balgrim walks over to Seamus and reaches up to place a hand on his shoulder.
My friend there is a man stuck down in that cave. If we are goin' to try and save him we should leave as soon as possible.
Merelinda nods along with Balgrim's words. They didn't have time for any silly songs. She moves along towards the 'secret' room with the others, clanking along with her walking arsenal.
Merelinda's brow furrows a bit in confusion, but she returns the aasimar's smile with a small one of her own. She hadn't expected the fop to acquiesce so easily. Maybe he wasn't a complete dandy after all.
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You make your way back to the Tavern. Everyone has gone home for the night, Jenna is just locking up.
Jenna: Oh, excuse me miss Val! she says turning around and seeing you all trying to enter as she is turning the key in the door lock.
Once inside Val looks around to ensure you are all alone: your party, Dolga, Joran the priest and herself. Then she opens a trap door behind the bar, "cleverly" hidden by a big Osirionite rug dusty with boot mud and smelling of spilled sky-beer. CREEEEK. A rickety wooden set of steps leads down into darkness...
Val: I was half expecting Khonnir to show up down here one of these days. You'll see why when you get down there. But since he hasn't, I'm thinking something really terrible has happened to him.
Yes. Well, at least this one thing. Come here Seamus. Val slips an arm-let over Seamus' bicept. It is made of high grade sky-metal and is beset with a ruby like "jewel". After admiring the trinket you look around. You are in a cellar lit by yellowish low-grade-technology lamps. The floor is made of a dark metal with a greenish hue. You feel energy in here, making your hair stand up on end. Val slips similar bracelets on the rest of your arms. Then standing back she smiles.
Knonnir built "The Foundry" over this site because of this here archeological find. We don't know what it is. But it has this wierd property. Seamus, go upstairs into the tavern, then press the Jewel on your armlet. Think you can do that? Actually, anyone brave can give it a try. I think you will be surprised.
Merelinda alternates her disgusted look between Val and Seamus, taking a few steps away from the both of them while the woman attached the curious piece to Seamus. She watches him leave with a sense of dread, waiting for the inevitable explosion.
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As Seamus presses the Ruby in the room above him he feels a "zingy", "static", "skin crawly" sensation. His hair stands strait up. A blue glow encompasses his body. There is a crackling sound. Tesla bolts form between Seamus' body and the surrounding walls of the tavern.
Downstairs, you all see a tiny blue pinpoint of light form in the room, centered over the disk-like sky metal floor. More tesla bolts form jumping from this singularity to the disk and to the walls of the room. Then there is a POP! and a wave of wind in your faces. And Seamus is standing in the center of the cellar with you!
Bloody hell! Well that was impressive. Erm, how you feelin' Seamus?
Balgrim then frowns thoughtfully and looks at Val.
Was yer father wearin' one o these when he went missing?
Balgrim's concern for Seamus quickly becomes impatience.
Son, the magical artifact is not for yer amusement. We need ta get goin, lost wizard n all.
Gods the boy is light on sense.
"Sooo....if we put it on anywhere, will it return us here?" The warpriestess notes Balgrim's impatience, silently agreeing. "Explain the use of this device, so that we may be off." Merelinda says curtly, adding a rather late, "Please."
"Let's not be impatient -- we should fully understand the ramifications of this before we decide to depend on it."
Val nods at Bayani's wisdom. Then she answers Balgrm: Yes, my foster father was wearing one. Which is the biggest reason i'm so concerned! If he were even slightly concious he could easily have zapped his way back here to me. But he hasn't she fights back tears. So i fear the worst.
Answering Bayani and Merelinda she says As far as we can tell they can be used as many times as needed to bring a person back to this spot. But they won't send you anywhere like a good old fashion teleportation spell. Although they do tend to run out of "juice" if used too many times in a row, they seem to recharge themselves when they are in the proximity of the purple Fire of the Torch up on the hill. Which, she grumbles has conveniently gone out. So who knows how long these toys will work. she shrugs.
Merelinda looks at Bayani, noting, "I hope never to depend on such devices. The very nature of these things is alien to everyone in this room."
The warpriestess turns to Val. "Any other tricks or surprises of note? We'd like to be off soon." She glances at Seamus, arching a dark brow, "Some of us, at least."
Answering Meri: I can't think of anything. You should start as soon as you can.
What're ye doin lad? Ah come on!
Balgrim looks to Merelinda and gestures in frustration at the stairs.
What's wrong with 'im? Can't he just... grrr He subsides into what sounds suspiciously like growling.
Right, lets get going then. Balgrim heads upstairs to go outside.
Merelinda gives Balgrim an incredulous stare. She certainly wasn't taking responsibility for Seamus' actions. Thankfully, the man pops back in again, so she nods along with the dwarf. "Wise words, Balgrim. Poor Khonnir's life could be fading whilst we play." She takes a couple of steps before realizing who she is speaking in front of.
Her face turns crimson, her dark eyes looking to Val for a moment. Not finding the proper words to say, she hastens along, hoping to put the uncomfortable moment behind her as quickly as possible.
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Huddled together around Joram, the cleric casts a WATER BREATHING SPELL and wishes you all luck. Then, in the cool night you all walk toward the lake. The stars above are so clear. As you go you can tell eachother stories you've heard about the Rain of Stars if you wish, or your past experiences with Technology
"...and that is how I came to despise the technology they have around here. Underneath all that sentience, all that circuitry and chemistry and wizardry, it is still just a bunch of moving parts, some sick version of life, but with no compassion, no mercy, and no deviation from its allotted course."